At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

18 nights hotels, 1 night houseboat, all en suite

Travel by private air-conditioned bus

Additional travel by train and houseboat

A fascinating journey through India's tropical south

A region of great charm, Southern India offers travellers beautiful cities, colonial hill stations, colourful temples, a relaxed lifestyle, attractive scenery and some of the best food in India. The major cities of the south were once princely capitals of the Maharajas, and their magnificent remains contrast dramatically with the cool, mist-shrouded hill stations of the British Raj. The natural scenery is also immensely rewarding; forest-clad hills slope down through to a shoreline of shady lagoons, wooded islands and ancient spice ports.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Cochin.

Those on the group flight will arrive in Cochin in the morning and transfer to the hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the start hotel. Set on the Malabar, or 'Pepper Coast', Cochin (Kochi) is one of South India's most interesting towns and is believed to have been the first European settlement in India. Rich in history despite recent growth it retains a relaxed, quiet atmosphere. Narrow spits of land and coconut covered islands jut out into the wide, almost enclosed bay whose neck is lined with the famous Chinese fishing nets.See more images and videos

2Day 2Explore historic spice port.

Today we do a sightseeing tour of Fort Cochin where most of the historic buildings are located in amongst the narrow streets. The Portuguese Vasco de Gama landed here in 1500 and began trading with the Raja of Cochin. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in the mid 1500's and then was largely rebuilt by its second occupants, the Dutch. Built in traditional Kerala style the wooden architecture and wall paintings of scenes from the Ramayana are still well preserved. Jewish settlers first arrived in Cochin in 587BC and a synagogue dating from the late 1500's still stands in Fort Cochin. Although there are only now about half a dozen Jewish families, the synagogue is a real gem and the individual hand painted 18th century blue ceramic Cantonese floor tiles are evidence of past trading with China. St Francis Church is where Vasco de Gama died in 1524 and the building reflects the new European influence in the area. The Santa Cruz Cathedral is close by and was originally used as a warehouse by the British. The Chinese fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour and were introduced by the Chinese in the late 14th century. There is also time to wander round the tiny back streets of Jew Town hunting for souvenirs in the many antique shops and warehouses.See more images and videos

3Day 3Climb through Nilgiri Hills to Ootacamund.

A long drive today (approx. 9/10 hours) as we leave the coast and drive inland into the Niligiri Hills. We leave Kerala and enter Tamil Nadu as the road winds up through forested hillsides to Coimbatore. The ghat journey up to Coonoor is one of the most scenic in South India giving superb views of the plains below and magnificent groves of the tall, slender areca nut palm trees line the road. Passing through the small hill station of Coonoor we continue winding our way through lush tea and coffee plantations to Ooty where we stay for the next two nights. At some point during your time here is should be possible to take the narrow gauge steam Blue Mountain Railway from Coonoor to Ooty. This is a delightful one-hour train journey which most groups love to take (please be aware that this isn't always possible if there are bad weather conditions or if they have technical problems with the train).

Ootacamund, or 'Snooty Ooty' is queen of the southern hill stations and was a refuge for British Officials and tea planters in Southern India. At 2,286m, the climate is much cooler here and evenings in winter can be quite chilly. In the morning we will drive to Dodabetta Peak. At 2,638m, it is the second highest in the Western Ghats. From the top on a clear day we can see as far as the Mysore Plateau. For those who want, there is a pleasant walk through a variety of woodland (eucalyptus, conifer, shola) to Snowdon Peak (2,450m) after which we walk back to the Botanical Gardens in town. The Botanical Gardens contain over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees including orchids, ferns and alpines set amidst beautiful lawns. In the afternoon there will be free time to wander round the bazaar and maybe try some of the locally made chocolate. At some point during your time here it should be possible to take the narrow gauge steam Blue Mountain Railway from Coonoor to Ooty. This is a delightful one-hour train journey which most groups love to take (please be aware that this isn't always possible if there are bad weather conditions or if they have technical problems with the train).See more images and videos

5Day 5To Mysore through Mudmalai and Bandipur N.P.

A beautiful drive of about five hours winds down the eastern side of the Niligiri Hills back to the plains. We drive through the Mudumalai and Bandipur National Parks as we cross the border from Tamil Nadu and into Karnataka. We may spot deer, elephant and monkeys as we drive along. Just before we enter Mysore we will visit Chaumundi Hill where there is a temple dedicated to Durga. On the road up to the temple there is a giant stone Nandi bull carved in 1659. We arrive in Mysore in the late afternoon and spend two nights here.See more images and videos

6Day 6Explore palaces and temples of Mysore.

Mysore is the city of royal palaces, sandalwood and the manufacture of incense sticks; it is the former capital of the princely state and is Karnataka's second largest city. Today we have a sightseeing tour of Mysore and its surroundings. Just outside of Mysore is Srirangapatnam the capital of Haider Ali and his famous son, Tipu Sultan. Tipus' famous battles against both the French and the British are depicted in the murals on the walls of his delightful summer palace. Ruins of the Fort and the Gumbaz, the family mausoleums are also here. Returning to Mysore we spend the afternoon exploring the beautifully restored City Palace. Designed by Henry Irwin and built in 1897, it is a remarkable building with domes, arches and colonnades of carved pillars and shiny marble floors. The stained glass, wall paintings, ivory inlaid doors and ornate golden throne are all remarkable. The rest of the day is free to wander round the bazaar.

A long and busy day today so we will leave early for the 3 hour drive to Sravanabelagola, a city sacred to the Jains. Standing on Vindhyagiri Hill, is the 17m high statue of Gommateshwara. Erected in the 10th century it represents the saintly prince Bahubali. Nearly 700 steps carved in the granite hill lead to the statue. The carved statue captures the tranquillity of much Buddhist and Jain art. The site is visited by hundreds of pilgrims daily. (Please note that climbing up to the statue is quite demanding as there are 700 steps to walk up in bare feet and it can be very hot. If you feel this is too much for you there will be the option to sit and wait and have a cup of tea). We will also visit the temples at Belur and Halebid. Belur and Helebid were the centre of the great Hoysala dynasty, who ruled during the 11th to 14th centuries. Great warriors, they also patronised culture and art. Although small, these temples show some of the finest carvings to be found anywhere in India. Halebid is the largest of all Hoysala Temples. Started in 1121 it remains unfinished. The friezes on the outside are particularly well carved and show scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. We transfer to Hassan in the evening.See more images and videos

8Day 8Drive to Bangalore; train to Chennai (Madras).

A long travelling day today - in the morning we drive to Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka and then in the afternoon we take the train to Chennai arriving in the late evening.See more images and videos

9Day 9Sightseeing in Chennai; transfer to beach at Mahabalipuram via temples at Kanchipuram.

This morning we spend about an hour visiting the Government Museum in Chennai before the short 1.5 hour drive to the coast to stay at Mahabalipuram. There will be time to relax in this quaint seaside resort after the previous two strenuous days.See more images and videos

10Day 10Morning sightseeing; explore rock-cut caves; afternoon free.

This part of Tamil Nadu was once known as the Coromandal Coast. It has a language over 2,000 years old and poetry dating back to before the birth of Christ. It also boasts some of the most remarkable temple architecture in India, and with a living tradition of music and dance, is culturally very rich. In the morning we visit the rock cut caves and temples at Mahabalupuram. Occupying a stunning position on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon, the port was made famous by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th century. There are numerous cave temples, monolithic carved shrines in the shape of chariots, stone temples and relief sculptured rock panels all dating back to the 7th century. Carving in stone is still a living art here and we will see stonemasons chipping away from dawn till dusk along the busy roadside, practicing the skills that flourished centuries ago. Afternoon free to enjoy the beach and local area. For those who want your leader can arrange an optional visit to a crocodile farm just outside of Mahabalipuram.See more images and videos

11Day 11To Pondicherry.

Today we drive south following the coast to Pondicherry (approx. 5 hrs). Pondicherry still enjoys a hint of its French colonial atmosphere in the grid pattern streets, distinctive police uniforms and the occasional colonial building. There will be a short orientation walk in the afternoon.See more images and videos

12Day 12To Thanjavur through fertile Kaveri Delta.

Today we drive to Thanjavur through the wonderfully fertile Kaveri Delta, an area lush with rice paddy fields. The journey today will take approximately 4/5 hours.See more images and videos

13Day 13Explore Thanjavur; to Madurai.

This morning we visit a beautiful 16th century palace which houses a huge library as well as the Rajaraja Museum with a collection of magnificent Chola bronzes. Thanjavur is famous for the Brihadisvara Temple, a World Heritage Site, and is one of the great monuments of southern India. The temple is the achievement of the Chola King, Rajaraja I, who was a great patron of the arts. It is built mainly from granite and has outstanding inscriptions and sculptures of Shiva, Vishnu and Durga. We have a snack lunch today and drive to Madurai in the late afternoon (approx. 4 hrs), past granite mountain ranges. Spread along the banks of the rocky bed of the Vaigai River stands the bustling city of Madurai, where we spend two nights.See more images and videos

14Day 14Visit Meenakshi Temple; free time.

Madurai is one of Tamil culture's most vital centres and the temple and bazaar are at the heart of this vibrant and colourful city. The most famous sight in Madurai is the Meenakshi Temple, an outstanding example of Vijaynagar temple architecture. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, it is at the heart of the city and the life of the town revolves around it. It is a hive of activity and the scene of an almost continuous religious festival. The temple's nine towering gopurams stand out with their colourful stucco images of gods, goddesses and animals. There are about 4,000 granite sculptures on the lower levels and numerous pillared temple halls surrounding the Golden Lotus Tank. The main temple is dedicated to Meenakshi, the 'fish-eyed goddess' and the consort of Shiva. One of the spectacular parts of the complex is the 16th century Thousand Pillared Hall with exquisitely carved columns and its sculptured ceiling, which depicts a wheel showing the 60 Tamil years. We also visit the Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, which was built in 1636 in Indo-Mughal style by the Nayak dynasty. The bazaars are colourful and lively and Madurai is a great place to take a cycle rickshaw ride. The town is also renowned for its silk and cotton.

We drive westwards and enter the state of Kerala today. Nicknamed 'God's own country', it is the southern most state of India. High levels of education and healthcare have given Kerala an enviable reputation elsewhere in India and its unique balance of Hindu, Muslim and Christian sets it apart from its neighbouring states. The journey takes about four hours through lush countryside to Thekaddy and the Periyar National Park. Set on the attractive Periyar lakeside the wildlife park is known for its elephants, sambar, wild boar and barking deer. This afternoon there is the option to do a tour of the spice gardens. Coffee, tea, rubber, cardamom and pepper are just some of the local produce.See more images and videos

A full day to explore Periyar. We join our local guide for a short walk in the wildlife sanctuary (2-3hrs) before we return to town for lunch. In the afternoon there is an optional boat cruise on the lake (tickets can't be purchased in advance and therefore you may need to queue up to buy a ticket). This is an ideal way to get close to the animals and we have the opportunity of spotting elephant, otter, wild pig and buffalo. There is also an abundance of bird life - kingfishers, storks and hornbills are the most commonly spotted. Other options available today are an Ayurvedic Massage, a visit to a Kathakali Dance or Martial Arts display.

We leave early today and drive approximately 5 hours to Allepey, where we board our houseboats around noon and begin our cruise along the backwaters of Kerala. The houseboat cruise is one of the highlights of the trip - these enchanting houseboats, built of Anjili wood and bamboo were the traditional method of transport of goods for hundreds of years. Now they have been decorated and made into comfortable cruise boats. The network of rivers, streams, lagoons and canals occupies the alluvial plain between the Western Ghats and the Indian Ocean. As our boat meanders through areas of lush tropical vegetation we have the opportunity to view not only the prolific bird life but also gain a differing perspective on village life. The cruise takes us along shallow, palm-fringed canals where coconut fibre and cashews are loaded on to dugouts. In the evening the boat is anchored in the backwaters and we can watch the sunset over the rice paddies. All the houseboats are comfortably equipped and one boat has between 3 and 5 twin or double bedded rooms with bathroom. There is a cook and boat driver and assistants for each boat and the food served is traditional Keralan fare using local produce. No trip to Kerala would be complete without the wonderful experience of the backwaters aboard these traditional Keralite vessels.See more images and videos

18Day 18Leave houseboat and drive to Kovalam; afternoon free.

This morning we leave our houseboat and drive along the scenic Malabar coast to Kovalam, once a relaxing hideaway on the old hippie trail this beachside town has now been discovered, but the influx of tourism has not diminished this beautiful setting. Free afternoon.See more images and videos

19Day 19Optional visit to Kanyakumari - the southernmost tip of India - or spend time relaxing on the beach.

We have a free day to enjoy the idyllic soft sandy beaches, warm clear waters and wide views of the ocean horizon that Kovalam has to offer. There is also the opportunity to do an optional day's sightseeing by taxi from Kovalam to Kanyakumari, the end point of India where 3 oceans meet, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The trip also takes in the old wooden palace of the rulers of Travancore at Padmapuhamban - a marvellous building with fantastic woodcarvings, and the Hindu temple at Suchindran with its amazing stone carvings (This trip can be booked and paid for locally – please note it is a very long day and the road conditions are not very good).See more images and videos

20Day 20End Kovalam.

Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for London this morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel.See more images and videos

Your images

Guided Group

This is a small group guided holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels and houseboat

You will spend 18 nights in en suite hotel rooms and 1 night on a houseboat. The houseboats are comfortable and all rooms have toilet facilities. Each boat has 3 to 5 twin bedded rooms. The houseboat also benefits from a deck & dining area. The number of boats will vary depending on group size and availability.

Single supplements are available on request from £450. The price will depend on the season you are traveling.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. To apply for the Indian visa yourself you will need to go through the Indian High Commission's VF service (http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk) and visit one of their centres in person or use a visa agency, such as Travcour, to do visit for you. The current visa fee for British passport holders is GBP82 (plus a service charge of GBP7.44). For UK residents full details of the visa process will be provided with your booking confirmation.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information. Holiday style

Although this is basically not a demanding tour, it is a busy itinerary with lots to see and traffic and road conditions can significantly increase the driving time so you should be prepared for some long days and some early starts. The times stated in the trip notes are actual driving times and do not include photo, tea, comfort or lunch breaks.

Eating & drinking

Breakfast is included throughout the trip and full board on the houseboat. You should allow at least £15 (approx. US$24) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. In most of the towns there is a good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western style food. If you are a vegetarian, India is probably one of the best destinations to travel to. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. Please note that hotels (apart from 5* hotels) and bars in Kerala are no longer allowed to sell alcohol, it is still possible to buy alocohol in government shops. Mineral water is widely available.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

The most important feature of the Indian climate is the monsoon. The main monsoon strikes the coast of Kerala in late May and sweeps its way northward over the next month or so. The midsummer months are very hot in South India. The ideal time to visit is during the dry season from October to March, although there can be some rain in Tamil Nadu from October to early December. Days will be hot and the nights warm, the average range of maximum daytime temperatures being 20 to 30degC and 6 to 20degC at night. In Ooty the temperatures can be considerably cooler and you can expect temperatures to drop to a few degrees above 0degC at night in winter.

Gallery

Reviews & community

3 weeks of fun filled days, memorable sights, sounds and aromas. This was my second Exodus trip to India, it was worth every single penny. Plenty of variety every day for everyone to enjoy, our group was the best group I have ever traveled with, we had so much fun! Southern India offers delicious food and a superb selection of historical temples, palaces, shrines, carvings. The frenetic pace of Indian life captivates your soul, the whole experience gets totally under your skin as you immerse into this beautiful country.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Difficult to pinpoint exactly, the rickshaw ride through the streets of Madurai, everyone waving and smiling as we went by, the elephant ride and bath, the full puja at a Jain temple, the houseboat trip in Allepey, the jungle retreat

What did you think of your group leader?

Santo James is the best group leader, he ran our show like a true professional. He was always able to offer help and guidance to anything we challenged him with. He was always upbeat, happy and a cheeky smile that made us feel relaxed and loved!! Santo will go far within the industry, he is very tenacious, dedicated and constantly looking out for the group. He took us to places that he thought we would enjoy that were not in the schedule, we loved it all. A huge thank you to Santo.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

We traveled in April, so be prepared for high humidity. A steady pace every day, but nothing strenuous.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Southern India is almost a totally different country compared to Northern India, all truly beautiful. Let each day unfold and take it all on board.

What a fantastic trip, my third trip with Exodus and as usual, they delivered exactly the product expected, a full and vibrant tour round southern, India. This trip is rated leisurely and is correctly labelled, even though the days are full and long. We were transported in very comfortably air conditioned coach, which turned out to be essential, as the heat was oppressive and exhausting. The only thing about the trip was oit was very hot in the cities, especially Cochin. Out of choice I would have liked to have gone in January, but I was too late to book. The heat melted us, when we were out and about, especially in the temples. The trip was hugely varied and interesting, there was something for everyone. The food was great and the selection of restaurants, recommended by the excellent guide Santo James was excellent. He tried very hard to accommodate all our needs, it's difficult to please all the people all the time.! All the logistics of the travel worked, on time and correct. Very well organised and efficient. The trip was excellent value for money. The only point I would like to make is there are lots of extra activities, which were all excellent, but not necessarily budgeted for. It may be worth saying if you do all the extras you need to allow an extra £300 plus. The restaurants were excellent but I personally spent more than the recommended budget, as huge prawns and lobster do add to the cost! But the quality is fantastic. It is worth mentioning though that the food overall was very cheap and you can eat very cheaply in India. If food is important then this is a great trip, by the way the night of the lobster was only £16 including extras and wine, which is expensive in India, but good quality. Fabulously ornate temples, with a back drop of verdant plantations, backwaters of Kerala, beautiful beach at Kovollam, Chinese fishing nets, cookery class, Katakala! It was all so diverse. Fab!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Jain temple, with its special festival, though the steps are heady! Kerala house boats, verdant tea plantations, railway at Ooty, city palace at Mysore was stunning, it goes on and on!

What did you think of your group leader?

Santo James was excellent, a local from the Kerala region. Very organised and always happy to accommodate the requests of the group. We wasted no time queuing, always upfront with tickets and hotel arrangements. Pointed out any extra things which were interesting to see. His advice was very useful when we were shopping or going it alone.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

India is a fantastic country, which is great value for money. Be prepared for sights of poverty and piles of rubbish, but look beyond as there is a wealth of history , colour and imagination at your fingertips.
It is very hot in April, and out of choice I personally would have liked to go earlier in the year.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The food is fantastic and varied, don't go if you don't like spicy foods. Be aware with cleanliness, only drink bottled water and you won't get an upset tummy.

This was my secound Visit to the South of India and I was thrilled to have the same guide as last year Afshar Ashraf who made the trip so good. I was a little disspointed in the east side of India much preffering the West coast but all in all another great Exodus trip thank you

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Again it was the houseboat what a truley magical trip.

What did you think of your group leader?

Afshar is the kindest person and so thoughtful I had my Birthday when I was away and he made it a birthday to remeber.
he works very hard and nothing is too much trouble.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Yes take warm clothing with you for ooty it was frezing and the hotel was not very good. Also their is no mention in the trip notes to take a extra bag for two night without suitcase

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Will the hotels have towels?

The hotels you stay at will all be good quality, with en suite facilities. As such, towels are usually provided but it's always a good idea to pack a small emergency one in the end of your bag as well, just in case. You may have an odd night where the standard is slightly lower but this will usually be due to where you are and, as such, limited by what is available.

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

Can I catch a Bollywood movie?!

Fancy a night out in India just like the locals? Head to a Bollywood movie and join the local in an evening packed with entertainment. The Bollywood masala movies are a mixture of dance, drama and musical with a break in between as most of these are lengthy 3 hours movies. This gives you the option to leave the theatre should you want to do that! The songs and dances make it like a 60’s musical where you could have the whole locals singing and dancing to the tune. Some movies become hits only because of these. Movie theatres that you may want to visit are; Raj Mandir in Jaipur, Odeon in Canaught Place, New Delhi, Filmistan, Karol Bagh in New Delhi - but all cities have theatres. A word of warning- try to avoid the rush when entering and exiting the theatre and the crowded area and keep valuables with close to you zipped at all times and enjoy the show.

Niraj Chand Shrestha - Customer Operations

Any good shopping tips for India?

Where do you start?! Half the joy of shopping in India is the sheer scale of what's on offer, from upscale boutiques in New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta to the crowded and sweaty markets of pretty much any town or village you come to. Handicrafts, art, leather goods, spices, hand carved statues, silk, the list goes on - all the way to cheap knock offs of western brands!

Remember, outside of the proper shops, haggling is the key but don't waste your time trying to split the difference over a few pence - the best result is when everyone comes away happy!

Charlotte Taylor - India Operations

What is the best way to take money to India?

Any time I go out, I normally just take sterling cash which, as long as you excercise the normal degree of common sense you would at home, is safe and easy. The India rupee is a closed currency, meaning you can only get it upon arrival in the country. There are exchange facilities at all arrival airports, and ATMs are available pretty much everywhere as well in case you need to top up along the way.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

What kind of food should I expect around the Indian subcontinent?

There is a real mix available and you won't be disappointed! The local cuisine is predominantly vegetarian, with lots of rice. You can enjoy everything from traditional spicy curries to stalls selling tasty sweets and deserts and even right the way to western style grub, if it all gets a bit too much. Vegetarians and 'non-spicy' food people are easily catered for, and the leader will make sure a wide range of dishes are ordered for each meal.

Charlotte Taylor - Customer Operations

Do you have any advice about malaria and rabies?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

I've heard the 'Delhi Belly' rumours in India -will this be a problem?

India has delicious food to cater for all preferences but, like anywhere in the world, hygiene is important. Keeping your hands well washed before eating, staying as hydrated as possible and sticking to bottled water is the best protection against an upset tum. Otherwise, mashed potato is apparently a good cure!

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

Is it possible to get visas upon arrival?

No. Indian visas must be pre-arranged in advance. Check the Indian embassy website for details.

Land of the Tiger articles

Caroline Northcott, one of our clients, travelled on this trip a few years ago. Please read her inspirational article to get a personal viewpoint of the holiday.

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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